This spacesuit prototype can turn urine into drinking water, just like in sci fi movies

A groundbreaking prototype spacesuit inspired by the Dune series has been developed, capable of converting astronaut urine into drinkable water. This innovation could have significant implications for future space exploration. Unlike the uncomfortable and leak-prone maximum absorbency garment currently used in space, the new design incorporates a urine collection system integrated with a filtration mechanism. The system removes salty water from the urine, extracts salt from the water, enriches it with electrolytes, and directs it into an in-suit drinking bag. This new spacesuit also requires a 20.5-volt battery to power the filtration process and weighs approximately 8 kilograms. It can produce half a liter of purified water in just five minutes. This is repoted by SSP.

Although sweat, which is also collected by the fictional stillsuits in Dune, would be easier to filter, the researchers initially focused on urine as the waste product for their first prototype. They plan to further test the system during simulated moon and Mars missions on Earth, with the ultimate goal of conducting real spacewalks using the technology.

The potential benefits of this technology are not limited to space missions alone. Julio Rezende, the leader of Habitat Marte, a Mars analog mission in Brazil, believes that this technology could have terrestrial spin-offs. For example, a similar system could be used by firefighters battling forest fires or by hikers on long trails. The adaptability and potential impact of this urine conversion system make it an exciting development for both space exploration and various Earth-based applications.